Herbed Steak Fries

Herbed Steak Fries

Herbed Steak Fries

Photo by Getty Images

Herbed Steak Fries Recipe from Taste of Home

Prep time: 10 minutes

Cooking time: 15 minutes

Servings: 4 servings

Ingredients

  • 4 cups frozen steak fries
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1-1/2 teaspoons dried basil
  • 1-1/2 teaspoons dried parsley flakes
  • 1/4 teaspoon garlic salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon seasoned salt
  • 1/4 cup grated Romano cheese
Photo by Getty Images

Directions

  1. Prepare the Fries
    Preheat your oven to 450°F. In a large bowl, combine the first six ingredients and toss the steak fries to coat evenly.
  2. Bake the Fries
    Arrange the coated steak fries in a single layer on a greased 15x10x1-inch baking pan. Bake for 15–20 minutes or until lightly browned.
  3. Add Cheese and Serve
    Remove the fries from the oven and sprinkle them with cheese. Serve immediately and enjoy
Photo by Getty Images
Chicken Curry

Chicken Curry

Chicken Curry

Photo by Getty Images

Chicken Curry Recipe from Delish

Prep time: 20 minutes

Cooking time: 25 minutes

Servings: 4-6 servings

Ingredients

  • 1 large white onion, coarsely chopped
  • 1 jalapeño, seeded, coarsely chopped
  • 1 (2 1/2″) piece ginger, peeled, coarsely chopped
  • 8 cloves garlic, peeled
  • 3 Tbsp. vegetable oil
  • 2 Tbsp. curry powder
  • Kosher salt
  • 2 Tbsp. tomato paste
  • 2 cups tomato puree
  • 2/3 cup whole-milk yogurt
  • 2 lb. boneless, skinless chicken thighs
  • 1 tsp. garam masala
  • Basmati rice and chopped fresh cilantro, for serving
Photo by Getty Images

Directions

  1. Prepare the Onion
    • In a food processor, blend the onion into a puree. If the onion gets stuck, stir it with a spoon and continue pulsing. Transfer the onion puree to a small bowl.
  2. Make the Aromatic Paste
    • In the same food processor, combine jalapeño, ginger, garlic, and 1/2 cup of water. Blend until a smooth paste forms, then transfer to another small bowl.
  3. Cook the Base
    • Heat oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add curry powder and toast, stirring constantly, until fragrant, about 1 minute. Stir in the onion puree, season with salt, and cook until most of the moisture evaporates and it thickens into a paste, about 5 minutes. Add the jalapeño paste and cook for another minute, stirring occasionally. Mix in the tomato paste and cook until it darkens about 2 minutes.
  4. Blend the Sauce
    • Transfer the cooked onion mixture back to the food processor. Add tomato puree and yogurt, blending until the sauce is smooth. Pour the sauce back into the pot, stir in 1 cup of water, and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to low and let the sauce gently simmer.
  5. Cook the Chicken
    • Pat the chicken thighs dry with paper towels and season them with salt. Add the chicken to the pot, cover, and cook over low heat, stirring every 5 minutes to prevent sticking. Cook until the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F, about 20 minutes. Adjust seasoning with salt if needed, and sprinkle garam masala over the curry, stirring to combine.
  6. Serve
    • Divide cooked rice into bowls and spoon the chicken curry over the top. Garnish with fresh cilantro before serving.
Photo by Getty Images
Google to change map names for Gulf of Mexico and Denali when US updates them based on Trump order

Google to change map names for Gulf of Mexico and Denali when US updates them based on Trump order

Google says it will take its cue from the U.S. government if it has to change the names of the Gulf of Mexico and Denali on its maps.

The company said Monday that it will only make changes when the government updates its official listings for the body of water and the mountain.

After taking office, President Donald Trump ordered that the water bordered by the Southern United States, Mexico and Cuba be renamed to the Gulf of America. He also ordered America’s highest mountain peak be changed back to Mt. McKinley.

“We have a longstanding practice of applying name changes when they have been updated in official government sources,” Google said in a post on X.

The company said that Maps will reflect any updates to the Geographic Names Information System, a database of more than 1 million geographic features in the United States.

“When that happens, we will update Google Maps in the U.S. quickly to show Mount McKinley and Gulf of America,” Google said.

“Denali” is the mountain’s preferred name for Alaska Natives. Former President Barack Obama ordered it changed in 2015 from its previous name “McKinley,” which was a tribute to President William McKinley, designated in the late 19th century by a gold prospector.

The Associated Press, which provides news around the world to multiple audiences, will refer to the Gulf of Mexico by its original name, which it has carried for 400 years, while acknowledging the name Gulf of America.

AP will, however, use the name Mount McKinley instead of Denali; the area lies solely in the United States and as president, Trump has the authority to change federal geographical names within the country.

Apple Crumble

Apple Crumble

Apple Crumble

Photo by Getty Images

Apple Crumble Recipe from The Pioneer Woman

Prep time: 20 minutes

Cooking time: 1 hour

Servings: 8-10 servings

Ingredients

Apple Filling

  • Salted butter, for the baking dish
  • 8 medium baking apples (such as Honeycrisp, Granny Smith, or Braeburn; about 4 pounds), peeled, cored, and sliced (4 lbs. 3 oz.)
  • 2 Tbsp. fresh lemon juice
  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 heaping Tbsp. all-purpose flour
  • 1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon
  • 1/4 tsp. kosher salt

Topping

  • 1 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1 cup packed brown sugar
  • 1 cup chopped walnuts
  • 1/4 tsp. baking powder
  • 1/4 tsp. baking soda
  • Pinch of kosher salt
  • 8 Tbsp. (1 stick) salted butter, melted
  • Ice cream or warm caramel sauce, for serving
Photo by Getty Images

Directions

  1. Prepare the Apples
  2. Preheat your oven to 350°F and butter a 13×9-inch baking dish. Add sliced apples to the dish and drizzle with lemon juice, tossing gently to coat. Spread the apples evenly across the dish. Combine granulated sugar, flour, cinnamon, and a pinch of salt in a bowl. Sprinkle this mixture over the apples and toss to ensure the slices are well coated.
  3. Make the Topping
  4. In another bowl, combine flour, brown sugar, chopped walnuts, baking powder, baking soda, and a small pinch of salt. Stir in melted butter until the mixture is crumbly. Spread this topping evenly over the apples.
  5. Bake the Crisp
  6. Bake the dish for 55–60 minutes, or until the topping is golden brown and crisp. Serve the apple crisp warm or at room temperature. Pair it with ice cream or drizzle with caramel sauce for an extra treat.
Photo by Getty Images
Butternut-Gouda Pot Stickers

Butternut-Gouda Pot Stickers

Butternut-Gouda Pot Stickers

Photo by Getty Images

Butternut-Gouda Pot Sticker Recipe from Taste of Home

Prep time: 45 minutes

Cooking time: 15 minutes

Servings: about 4 dozen

Ingredients

  • 1 small butternut squash (about 2-1/2 pounds)
  • 1 tablespoon butter
  • 1 small sweet red pepper, finely chopped
  • 1 small onion, finely chopped
  • 2 cups shredded Gouda cheese
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon minced fresh thyme or 1/8 teaspoon dried thyme
  • 1/2 teaspoon pepper
  • 1 package (10 ounces) pot sticker or gyoza wrappers
  • 3 tablespoons canola oil, divided
  • 3/4 cup water, divided
Photo by Getty Images

Directions

  1. Slice the butternut squash in half lengthwise and remove the seeds. Place the halves, cut side down, into a microwave-safe dish. Add about 1/2 inch of water to the dish, cover, and microwave on high until the squash is tender, approximately 15–20 minutes. Let it cool slightly, then scoop out the flesh and mash it.
  2. Heat butter in a skillet over medium heat. Add finely chopped onion and bell pepper, cooking until softened, about 4–6 minutes. Combine this mixture with the mashed squash, then mix in shredded cheese, a pinch of salt, thyme, and black pepper.
  3. Take one dumpling wrapper (keep the rest covered with a damp towel to prevent drying). Place about a tablespoon of the squash mixture in the center. Moisten the edge of the wrapper with water, fold it over the filling, and pleat the front side to create a pouch shape. Flatten the bottom of the pot sticker slightly so it can stand upright. Repeat with the remaining wrappers and filling.
  4. Heat a tablespoon of oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium heat. Arrange about a third of the pot stickers in the pan and cook until the bottoms are golden, around 1–2 minutes. Carefully add 1/4 cup of water, then quickly cover the skillet to trap the steam (be cautious of splattering). Steam for 3–4 minutes, then uncover and cook until the bottoms are crisp and the water has evaporated about 1–2 minutes. Repeat the process for the remaining pot stickers.
Photo by Getty Images
Democrats and voting groups say a bid to toss out North Carolina ballots is an attack on democracy

Democrats and voting groups say a bid to toss out North Carolina ballots is an attack on democracy

BY GARY D. ROBERTSON Associated Press

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — Copland Rudolph cast a ballot in the November election, just as she has for years, with her vote counting on a long list of North Carolina contests that were settled soon after.

Nearly three months later, she’s still not sure it will count for one of the higher-profile races — a seat on the state Supreme Court.

The Republican candidate, Jefferson Griffin, is still seeking to reverse the outcome, even after two recounts showed Democratic Associate Justice Allison Riggs narrowly winning the election. Riggs remains on the court while the legal battles play out.

Litigation in state and federal court should decide the outcome of Griffin’s efforts to have roughly 66,000 ballots thrown out. If the legal challenge succeeds, Griffin’s lawyers say it would probably result in him claiming the seat. That would expand the high court’s current 5-2 conservative majority.

The election for a seat on the North Carolina Supreme Court is one of the last unresolved 2024 races in the country. One voter whose ballot has been challenged calls it “tantrum politics.” (AP video/Allen Breed)

Rudolph is among the voters whose ballots are being challenged by Griffin and who could be disenfranchised, and she’s not happy about it. Her message to Griffin is clear: Stop the games and concede the race.

“It’s infuriating,” said Rudolph, 57, who leads an education foundation in Asheville. “These votes have been counted. They’ve been recounted. The math is not in doubt.”

Trying to undo a ‘free and fair’ election

Democrats, voting rights activists and good government groups say Griffin’s actions and support for them by the state GOP are an affront to democracy. The votes on the challenged ballots have otherwise been used to determine the outcome of every other top race in North Carolina last fall.

While The Associated Press has declared 4,436 winners in the November election, with four candidates headed to runoff elections, the North Carolina Supreme Court contest is just one of four races nationwide that remain undecided.

Griffin’s critics say his refusal to accept defeat is a blatant attempt to overturn the will of the voters and further partisan interests. His legal arguments, if successful, could serve as a road map for the GOP to reverse future election results in other states.

“The eyes of the entire country are on this race because the implications of having free and fair elections that are being questioned and potentially overturned are devastating,” former North Carolina Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper told reporters this month.

The legal fight is taking place against the backdrop of another maneuver by state Republicans criticized s an undemocratic power grab. Last month, Republican lawmakers in the legislature used their then-supermajority to override Cooper’s veto of a bill to strip numerous powers from now-Gov. Josh Stein and other statewide Democratic officials.

The fight in the nation’s ninth most populous state over the Supreme Court seat is being considered in two court systems. The 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals will hear arguments Monday about whether federal or state courts should handle the case.

The state Supreme Court declined this week to grant Griffin’s request for the justices to fast-track a decision on whether the ballots should be counted or removed from the final tally. They said Griffin’s appeals of State Board of Elections decisions last month that dismissed his ballot protests must go through a trial court first.

Part of a broader GOP preelection legal strategy

Riggs leads Griffin by just 734 votes out of more than 5.5 million ballots cast. Her side says Griffin is trying to overturn an election after the fact by removing ballots and violating voters’ rights, and that he should have conceded long ago.

“I am disappointed that the door has been opened to dragging this out for so long,” Riggs said in a news release this past week. “I will continue to make sure that the more than 65,000 voters who Griffin seeks to disenfranchise have their voices heard.”

Griffin has declined comment on the litigation, saying doing so would violate the state’s judicial conduct code.

On election night. Griffin led Riggs by about 10,000 votes, but that lead switched to Riggs as provisional and absentee ballots were added to the totals.

Republicans already had signaled they might pursue postelection challenges in close North Carolina races when they filed numerous preelection lawsuits, a tactic the GOP used in other states last year. Their North Carolina lawsuits focused in part on registration and residency issues that are now contained in Griffin’s protests.

“Elections boards don’t have the authority to ignore and overrule the state constitution or state law,” state GOP Chairman Jason Simmons said recently on the social platform X.

No evidence that any of the voters are ineligible

A little over 60,000 of the challenged ballots were from voters whose registration records lack a driver’s license number or the last four digits of their Social Security number, which election officials have been required to collect since 2004. This group includes even Riggs’ parents.

Griffin’s attorneys say the registrations are incomplete and they blame the state board for having registration forms that for years didn’t specifically require one of these numbers. But lawyers for Riggs and the state board say there are many legitimate reasons why the numbers are missing. In any case, critics of the challenges say, it’s not the voters’ fault.

Griffin has offered no evidence that any of the registered voters are ineligible, according to legal briefs from Riggs and the state board. The briefs also said removing their ballots would run afoul of federal law.

Griffin’s legal strategy has recently focused more on 5,500 ballots from what his lawyers refer to as overseas voters who did not provide copies of photo identification, as other voters are required to do. Lawyers for Riggs and the elections board have told judges that many of the ballots that fall into this category were cast by military personnel, and that state and federal law doesn’t require any of these voters to provide an ID.

The State Board of Elections, in which three of the five members are Democrats, dismissed Griffin’s protests last month, mostly along partisan lines, but the state Supreme Court on Jan. 7 blocked certification of a Riggs victory, at least for now.

All other races in the state have been certified and likely would not be affected by the result of Griffin’s challenges, even if courts sided with him and found that thousands of ballots should not have been counted. The ballots Griffin is challenging were absentee ballots or those cast during early in-person voting.

A fundamental right in jeopardy

As the cases play out, Democrats and voting-rights advocates are on a media offensive to preserve Riggs’ victory in a swing state where Republican Donald Trump won the presidental race but Democrats earned victories in the most prominent statewide offices. They’ve put up anti-Griffin billboards and held demonstrations.

On a recent day, a political group called the “Can’t Win Victory Fund” set up across from the state Supreme Court building and spent the day reading the names of voters whose ballots Griffin is trying to toss out.

Even a conservative group focused on improving voter confidence in elections has begun airing a television ad critical of the challenges.

Dawn Baldwin Gibson, an African American pastor and school administrator from rural Pamlico County, has been told her ballot is being challenged.

A registered voter who is not affiliated with any party, Gibson recalls her grandfather telling her that “voting fundamentally made you American.” Now election officials have been unable to explain to her why someone would question her vote.

“It just doesn’t make any sense,” she said.

Tomato Mozzarella Focaccia

Tomato Mozzarella Focaccia

Tomato Mozzarella Focaccia

Photo by Getty Images

Tomato Mozzarella Focaccia Recipe from HGTV

Prep time: 2 hours

Cooking time: 20-25 minutes

Servings: Yields 2 Loaves

Ingredients

  • 5 cups all-purpose flour / 635g
  • 4 teaspoons yeast / 17g
  • 2/3 cup grated parmesan / 35g
  • 2 teaspoons sea salt
  • 2 tablespoons fresh thyme, finely chopped
  • 2 cups warm water
  • 4 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

For the topping:
2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
1/4 teaspoon fine sea salt
1 clove garlic, grated (optional)
12 cherry tomatoes
25 fresh mozzarella pearls

Photo by Getty Images

Directions

  1. Grease two 9″x13″ rimmed baking pans with oil and set them aside.
  2. In a large mixing bowl or the bowl of a stand mixer, combine the flour, yeast, parmesan cheese, salt, and thyme. Gradually mix in the water and olive oil while stirring. Stir until all the ingredients are fully combined. If kneading by hand, transfer the dough to a lightly floured surface and knead for about 10 minutes. If using a stand mixer, attach the dough hook and mix on medium speed for 5–7 minutes.
  3. Divide the dough into two equal portions. Roll each piece into a rectangle slightly larger than your prepared baking pans. Place the dough into the greased pans, pressing it into the edges to fit. Lightly dust the surface of the dough with flour and cover with plastic wrap greased with olive oil or cooking spray. Cover the pans with a kitchen towel and let the dough rise in a warm place until it doubles in size, about 1 to 1 1/2 hours, depending on the conditions.
  4. Preheat the oven to 450°F (232°C). Slice the mozzarella pearls in half, preparing 25 halves for each loaf. Halve the cherry tomatoes, remove the seeds, and slice each half lengthwise again to create quarters (24 quarters for each loaf). Arrange the tomato pieces cut-side-down on a wire rack to drain excess liquid. Mix olive oil, grated garlic, and salt in a small bowl, and set it aside.
  5. Once the dough has risen, gently remove the plastic wrap. Use your fingertips to press 5 rows of 5 dimples into the surface of each loaf. Place a piece of mozzarella into each dimple. Brush the top of the dough with the garlic oil mixture, then press the tomato quarters into the dough between the rows of mozzarella.
  6. Bake the loaves for 20–25 minutes or until the tops are lightly golden. Remove from the oven and allow to cool on a wire rack before serving.
Photo by Getty Images
How key Republican senators are responding to Trump allies’ primary threats

How key Republican senators are responding to Trump allies’ primary threats

By THOMAS BEAUMONT and MEG KINNARD Associated Press

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — From activists on the far right to Elon Musk, allies of President Donald Trump have been quick to threaten primary challengers for Republican senators who don’t back his Cabinet picks and legislative priorities.

In the case of Iowa’s Joni Ernst, conservatives threatened to run against her if she didn’t back Trump’s pick for defense secretary, Pete Hegseth — before she announced she would.

Louisiana’s Bill Cassidy, a doctor before entering politics, is being closely watched for how he will question Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Trump’s nominee for health secretary

South Carolina’s Lindsey Graham, a Trump confidant, has long been targeted by the far right in his state and was booed at a home-state rally during the 2024 presidential campaign.

The Associated Press talked to people connected to five senators who have been targeted online or by rivals in their states.

Here’s a look at each of their potential races and what they face:

Joni Ernst, Iowa

Ernst prompted criticism from the right after she initially stopped short of endorsing Hegseth, who was confirmed by the Senate on Friday. Ernst voted “yes.”

A retired Iowa National Guard lieutenant colonel and Iraq War veteran, Ernst is also a sexual assault survivor. After Trump announced Hegseth’s nomination, she said she hoped to discuss with him comments that he had made opposing women serving in combat roles, and about an allegation, which he denied and was not charged for, that he sexually assaulted a woman he met at a 2017 conference.

Hegseth, at Ernst’s suggestion, affirmed that that “every man and woman has opportunity to serve their country in uniform and to do so at any level as long as they are meeting the standards that are set forward.” Hegseth also said that if confirmed, he would appoint a senior-level official dedicated to sexual assault prevention and response.

Potential challengers to Ernst: Conservative media figure Steve Deace, who posted on Facebook in December that “I don’t want to be a Senator, but I am willing to primary her for the good of the cause.” Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird wrote in a December opinion piece in Breitbart that some unnamed “D.C. politicians” thought “they can ignore the voices of their constituents and entertain smears” from news media outlets. That prompted speculation that Bird, who endorsed Trump before the 2024 Iowa caucuses, might challenge Ernst, who stayed neutral beforehand. Charlie Kirk of the conservative group Turning Point also called for Ernst to face a primary. An effort to boost Hegseth’s nomination led to Ernst’s office receiving thousands of calls.

Cause for concern: Neither Deace nor Bird has taken any public steps toward running. Some prominent social conservatives are bothered by Ernst’s joining with a dozen Republicans and the Senate’s Democratic majority in 2022 to support repealing the Defense of Marriage Act to recognize the validity of same-sex marriages. But she remains popular with Iowa’s power players.

“Anyone who says with a straight face that they are going to beat Joni Ernst in a primary today is kidding themselves,” said Luke Martz, an Iowa Republican consultant. “It would be a fool’s errand.”

Thom Tillis, North Carolina

Tillis angered some on the right for not immediately supporting Trump’s first pick for attorney general, former Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz. Though Gaetz withdrew from consideration, Tillis remains a frustration to some among North Carolina’s right wing, in part for voting to repeal the Defense of Marriage Act.

Potential challengers: Andy Nilsson, a onetime candidate for lieutenant governor, has filed paperwork to challenge Tillis. The retired businessman has called for a return to the Reagan-Bush Republican ethos, hardly an attack from the right. Tillis faced three Republican challengers in 2020, all posing as more conservative than him.

Cause for concern: Tillis has reason to expect a right-wing challenge. That faction helped lift former Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson to the 2024 nomination for governor last year. But North Carolina is expected to be among the most competitive states for Senate Republicans to hold in 2026. Roy Cooper, a Democrat who just finished two terms as governor, has not ruled out running for the seat. National Republicans are aware of the risks of nominating someone too far to the right. Cooper’s Democratic successor, Gov. Josh Stein, beat Robinson by nearly 15 percentage points in a state that Trump won by 3 points.

To that end, Trump’s team and Tillis have been working together behind the scenes, said former Gov. Pat McCrory, a fellow Republican.

“I anticipate there will be threats of challenging him from the right. But I also think he’ll deal with it as he has, with hard work and a record of accomplishment,” McCrory said. “I think the incoming administration sees that.”

“They also see he’s the best chance of keeping North Carolina red,” he added.

Bill Cassidy, Louisiana

Cassidy remains vulnerable in large part due to his vote to convict Trump after his second impeachment over the siege of the U.S. Capitol. “Our Constitution and our country is more important than any one person. I voted to convict President Trump because he is guilty,” Cassidy said in a statement after the February 2021 vote.

Cassidy, in his second term, has not yet announced whether he will seek a third. A gastroenterologist before he entered politics, Cassidy will be closely watched for how he votes on Kennedy, a longtime vaccine skeptic who has questioned medical consensus on several issues.

Potential challengers: Cassidy has already drawn a Republican challenger, state Treasurer John Fleming. Fleming, a former U.S. House member from northern Louisiana, has said Cassidy’s impeachment vote “failed” Louisiana. Former U.S. Rep. Garrett Graves of Baton Rouge is also a potential challenger, as is Blake Miguez, a state senator from New Iberia.

Louisiana last year did away with its 50-year tradition of “jungle primaries,” where candidates from all parties ran in the same contest in November. Cassidy would now run in a closed Republican primary that might be more difficult if he faces one strong Trump-aligned challenger.

Cause for concern: Cassidy’s vote to convict Trump remains a sticking point for Republicans in a state the president won with 60% last year. But Cassidy is viewed as having strong constituent relations and visibility in the state, political observers say.

“Aside from that vote, I think he’s considered a good senator, and good at constituent work,” said Ellen Carmichael, a Louisiana Republican consultant and president of Washington-based Lafayette Company. “The base is unhappy with the vote he cast. But I wouldn’t count him out.”

John Cornyn, Texas

Cornyn in the past has been criticized within his own party for being too willing to work with Democrats and has drawn boos at GOP conventions in Texas. Commentator Tucker Carlson and others have urged a primary challenge against him.

Last year, Cornyn told the Dallas Morning News that, “God willing,” he would seek reelection in 2026. According to federal filings, Cornyn had more than $3.5 million on hand in toward the end of 2024.

Potential challengers: Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton is one of the state’s most powerful Republicans and also suggested Cornyn should be primaried. Paxton was acquitted in a 2023 impeachment effort and fraud charges against him were dropped last year. Cornyn and Paxton have sniped at each other on X, with Paxton calling Cornyn “anti-Trump” and “anti-gun” and the senator firing back, “Hard to run from prison, Ken.”

Cause for concern: Brendan Steinhauser, a Republican strategist who has worked on Cornyn’s previous campaigns, noted that the senator remains undefeated in elections.

“He’s never taken a race for granted. I would expect him to work extremely hard and crisscross the state of Texas to earn every vote possible in this upcoming election, assuming he has a primary challenger,” Steinhauser said. “I think it’s important for him to show the ways that he has worked with President Trump to enact the conservative America First agenda, and I would expect that would be a big part of his campaign message in a potential upcoming primary.”

Lindsey Graham, South Carolina

Seeking his fifth term, Graham will likely face primary challenges — he always has. County-level Republican parties have censured him a number of times for his willingness to work on bipartisan deals. One such measure derided Graham’s “condescending attitude” to the party’s grassroots organizers.

He has even drawn boos at some events of the party faithful in his home state. That includes a July 2023 Trump rally in Pickens — in the county where Graham grew up — where objections from the crowd drowned out more than five minutes of his remarks. When he took the stage, Trump also elicited boos when he mentioned Graham’s name.

Graham has named a campaign leadership team, which says he has more than $15 million on hand, including nearly $1 million raised in the final quarter of 2024.

Potential challengers: Rep. Ralph Norman represents South Carolina’s 5th Congressional District south of Charlotte, North Carolina, and is a member of the House Freedom Caucus. Another possible opponent could be Adam Morgan, a former South Carolina legislator who lost a primary bid last year against another congressman, Rep. William Timmons.

Cause for concern: While he was highly critical of Trump in 2016 when they competed for the Republican nomination, Graham has backed Trump ever since his first administration, frequently serving as his golf partner and Capitol Hill surrogate. Trump has backed him in turn. When the crowd in Pickens booed Graham’s name, Trump said he was “going to have to work on these people” and added that Graham is “there when you need him.”

___

Kinnard reported from Washington.

Fish Tacos

Fish Tacos

Fish Tacos

Photo by Getty Images

Fish Tacos Recipe from Natasha’s Kitchen

Prep time: 30 minutes

Cooking time: 25 minutes

Servings: Yields 24 tacos

Ingredients

Fish Taco Ingredients:

  • 24 small white corn tortillas
  • 1 1/2 lb tilapia
  • 1/2 tsp ground cumin
  • 1/2 tsp cayenne pepper
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1/4 tsp black pepper
  • 1 Tbsp Olive oil
  • 1 Tbsp unsalted butter

Fish Taco Toppings:

  • 1/2 small purple cabbage
  • 2 medium avocado, sliced
  • 2 Roma tomatoes, diced (optional)
  • 1/2 diced red onion
  • 1/2 bunch Cilantro, longer stems removed
  • 4 oz 1 cup Cotija cheese, grated
  • 1 lime cut into 8 wedges to serve

Fish Taco Sauce Ingredients:

raw tilapia fillet with spices - tilapia fillet stock pictures, royalty-free photos & images
Photo by Getty Images

Directions

  1. Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C) and line a large baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone mat. In a small bowl, mix together the seasonings: 1/2 teaspoon cumin, 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper, 1 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon black pepper. Evenly sprinkle the seasoning mixture over both sides of the tilapia fillets.
  2. Lightly drizzle olive oil over the fish and add small pieces of butter on top of each fillet. Bake the fish for 20–25 minutes. If you’d like browned edges, switch to broil for the last 3–5 minutes.
  3. In a medium bowl, whisk together all the taco sauce ingredients until smooth and well combined.
  4. To prepare the tacos, warm the corn tortillas by toasting them briefly on a dry skillet or griddle over medium-high heat.
  5. Assemble the tacos by placing pieces of baked fish onto the tortillas. Add your preferred toppings, such as shredded cabbage, diced tomatoes, or sliced avocado. Sprinkle with cotija cheese and drizzle with the prepared taco sauce. Finish with a fresh lime wedge for squeezing over the tacos just before serving.
close up of fish tacos on a plate - fish tacos stock pictures, royalty-free photos & images
Photo by Getty Images
Twice-Baked Potatoes

Twice-Baked Potatoes

Twice-Baked Potatoes

Photo by Getty Images

Twice-Baked Potatoes Recipe from The Pioneer Woman

Prep time: 30 minutes

Cook time: 1 hour 15 minutes

Servings: 8-12 servings

Ingredients

  • 8 baking potatoes, washed
  • 2 sticks of butter, cubed
  • 8 slices cooked bacon, crumbled or finely chopped
  • 1 cup sour cream
  • 2 cups cheddar jack cheese, divided
  • 1 cup whole milk
  • 2 tsp. seasoned salt
  • 1/2 tsp. ground black pepper, plus more for serving
  • 4 green onions, thinly sliced
preparing twice baked potato shepherd's pie - making twice baked potatoes stock pictures, royalty-free photos & images
Photo by Getty Images

Directions

  1. Preheat your oven to 425°F (220°C). Use a fork to pierce each potato 3–4 times, then place them on a baking sheet. Roast the potatoes for about 1 hour and 15 minutes, or until they are tender when pressed. Allow the potatoes to cool until they can be handled comfortably. Lower the oven temperature to 375°F (190°C).
  2. In a large mixing bowl, add butter, cooked bacon, and sour cream. Carefully cut each potato in half lengthwise with a sharp knife. Scoop out the potato flesh into the bowl, leaving a thin layer of potato inside the skins to provide structure. Arrange the empty potato skins on a baking sheet.
  3. Mash the scooped potato together with the butter, bacon, and sour cream. Stir in 1 cup of shredded cheese, milk, seasoned salt, most of the sliced green onions (reserving some for garnish), and black pepper. Mix until well combined.
  4. Spoon the mashed potato mixture evenly into the potato skins. Sprinkle the remaining 1 cup of cheese over the tops. Bake the filled potatoes at 375°F until the tops are golden brown and heated through, about 20 minutes. Garnish with the reserved green onions and a dash of black pepper before serving.
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